3-DIMENSIONAL DYNAMIC SIMULATION OF THE 1992 LANDERS EARTHQUAKE

The 1992 Landers, California, earthquake (magnitude 7.3) was modeled a s the propagation of a spontaneous rupture controlled by a realistic p restress distribution with the use of a three-dimensional finite-diffe rence method. The dynamic rupture reproduces the general slip pattern used to compute the initial stress distribution and generates near fau lt ground motions at the surface similar to observations. The simulate d rupture propagates on the fault along a complex path with highly var iable speed and rise time, changing the magnitude and pattern of the s tress significantly. The method provides the framework to estimate ear thquake rupture parameters from recorded seismic and geodetic data.